How Gaming and Fitness Go Hand-in-Hand

Gaming is typically a highly sedentary activity that involves sitting in front of a screen for hours on end almost every day. Most gamers know how this lifestyle can take a toll on their body, but are unsure how to incorporate more physical activity into their day without sacrificing the time they’d rather spend on their favorite hobby. Fortunately, there are plenty of creative ways to combine fitness and gaming to help you avoid the pain, stiffness, and health issues that gamers can be prone to.

Work Out Before Gaming Sessions

Once you get in the zone, it’s even more difficult to pry yourself away from a game to work out. If you have specific fitness goals in mind that will require more time commitment, you may want to consider working out before you begin your gaming sessions. Not only will this help you achieve your goals more quickly, but the endorphins from a workout can enhance your mental focus and mood to improve your performance in the game.

Make Exercise a Habit

How much time you should spend working out each week depends on your personal goals. If you’re just starting out or if you have a busy schedule, you can begin with short, simple 15-minute workouts and work your way up over time. The most important step is to make exercise a habit and to find time in your schedule for a workout several times a week. You can write it on a calendar or set a reminder on your phone so it won’t interfere with your gaming schedule or distract you during a session.

Motion Gaming

Thanks to modern technology, gaming doesn’t always require you to remain seated. There are plenty of VR and motion-controlled games that make physical activity more enjoyable as they align with your personal interests. Some games are even specifically designed for fitness and promote cardiovascular health.

If you don’t have motion gaming equipment, you can also use a stationary bike or a desk peddler to keep your blood pumping as you play if you don’t have many opportunities to take a break to exercise.

Exercise During Games

Many long gaming sessions come with the opportunity to fit in a few high-intensity exercises here and there. For example, if you’re playing a game with a long load time, you can spend those couple of minutes doing short bursts of exercise such as jumping jacks, crunches, or squats. Another great time to get up and move is during a battle royale round in which you’ve died early on. If the round won’t end for several minutes (or even half an hour!) this can be a fantastic opportunity to move your body and squeeze in a quick workout. Depending on how much time you have, you may even be able to fit in a short routine until you’re back in the game.

To do this, choose a handful of exercises such as high knees, jumping jacks, mountain climbers, and planks for 20 second intervals. You can repeat this as many times as necessary, taking a couple of minutes in between sets to rest and catch your breath.

There are plenty of exercises you can squeeze in during long gaming sessions that require very little space and no equipment. This makes it more appealing to get up and moving, and easier to stop and start as time allows.